Cafe at Crater Lake to reopen

Herald and News
Klamath Falls, Oregon
April 26, 2002
By LEE JUILLERAT

Limited services available beginning Wednesday

Visitors to Crater Lake National Park who have been hungering for a bowl of chili or gift shop souvenirs should keep the checkbooks handy.

Limited services at the Rim Village cafe and retail shop will reopen on Wednesday. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until later in May, when hours will be extended for the summer season.

Crater Lake Lodge will reopen its 71 rooms and dining room on May 20.

The park's concession services, held by Crater Lake Lodge, Inc., were shut down late last year when the long-time concessionaire announced it was not applying for a new contract.

Earlier this year, Xanterra Parks and Resorts, a company formerly known as Amfac Recreational Services, was awarded a 15-year contract. Xanterra is operating on an interim contract until a settlement is reached with the former concessionaire on the value of the operation.

Xanterra will handle lodging, boat tours, food service, the Mazama Campground, service station and gift shop facilities.

"We're excited to be here," said Dominie Lenz, Xanterra at Crater Lake's general manager.

Lenz said the new concessionaire will basically offer services traditionally offered at the park. Additional services will be offered as the snow melts. The Mazama Motor Inn, which has 40 motel type units, is tentatively scheduled to open June 7.

Lake boat tours should open June 26 with seven tours daily. Prices will be announced.

Because of the closure of concession services at the rim, beverages and snack food have been offered for the past several months by the Crater Lake Natural History Association at the Munson Valley visitor contact station.

Xanterra was one of four companies that applied for the concession contract. A contract has not yet been signed.

As part of the bidding process, the company pledged to invest $1.5 million for the construction of a new restaurant and gift store away from the rim. The company also submitted an offer that exceeded a minimum franchise fee of 3-1/2 percent. Eighty percent of the fee will be returned to the park for visitor service-related projects.

The contract also calls for a stronger environmental management program, including implementing a more rigorous recycling program and additional safety measures for lake boat tours.

People wanting to make reservations for the lodge or motor inn should call Xanterra's winter office in White City at (541) 830-8700.